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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
Induction of Invasive Transitional Cell Bladder Carcinoma in Immune Intact Human MUC1 Transgenic Mice: A Model for Immunotherapy Development
Published on: October 30, 2013
Evolution of intravesical immunotherapy for bladder cancer: mycobacterial cell wall preparation as a promising agent
1Queen's University and General Hospital, Centre for Applied Urological Research, 62 Barrie Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. moralesa@post.queensu.ca
Background:
The intra-cavitary administration of antineoplastic agents for the treatment of non-invasive bladder cancer has met with variable results. Mytomicin-C [corrected] is effective in the prevention of tumor recurrence when administered in the immediate post-resection period, but also exhibits activity against papillary tumors. It lacks efficacy in carcinoma in-situ (CIS) of the bladder. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) has been shown to be effective against papillary tumors, but particularly in the treatment of CIS. Unfortunately, live BCG has serious safety limitations.
Objective:
To review the current situation with the use of non-viable preparations of mycobacteria (M. phlei) that have been investigated for the treatment of superficial bladder cancer in limited open-label clinical trials.
Conclusion:
MCC (Urocidin) [corrected] has shown activity against a variety of tumor cells, both in vitro and in animal cancer models. Limited clinical trials have also shown it to be active against non-muscle invasive bladder tumors in patients who have previously failed one or more courses of chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy with BCG. An unique dual immunomodulatory and apoptotic mechanism of action has been proposed for MCC.
